Liza Trépanier, “Phototropic Delicatessen,” 2023, mixed media on panel, 48 x 12 in.
Light is often thought of as a means to an end — a source of illumination rather than a subject in and of itself. In works like “Phototropic Delicatessen,” Liza Trépanier focuses on light as a subject. This vertical panel appears to be a palimpsest of colors, with layers scraped or sanded away to reveal a tapestry of hues beneath. The top portion is dominated by warm tones of red and orange, reminiscent of a sunset or the ember-like glow of fire, which gradually descends into cooler shades of green and teal, evoking the essence of natural light filtering through foliage or water.
Using printed images of brightly colored organic light sources, Trépanier sands her images until the paper reveals “curious, chromosomal forms created by the glue underneath.” The texture is also of great importance here, as the tactile quality of the surface invites viewers to ponder the materiality of the artwork. It is not just a visual experience but a physical one as well, where the layers and the process of their revelation are as significant as the colors themselves. The work seems to dance between intention and spontaneity, where the organic process meets the artist’s conscious interaction with her materials.
A California native, Trépanier recently completed her BFA at Brigham Young University. She now lives and works in Salt Lake City.
READ MORE ABOUT THE ARTIST AND VIEW MORE OF HER WORK
Artists of Utah’s 35×35, Finch Lane Gallery, Salt Lake City, through Feb. 23
UTAH’S ART MAGAZINE SINCE 2001, 15 Bytes is published by Artists of Utah, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Categories: 35x35
